Depending on your overall health, you may not be able to undergo open-heart surgery for aortic stenosis. Carilion Clinic is proud to offer TAVR as an option for those patients who do not qualify for open-heart surgery due to high risk or being inoperable. Each patient will be assessed by our team of specialists, consisting of general cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and cardiac anesthesiologists, prior to a treatment approach decision.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A TAVR CANDIDATE

TAVR patients may present with some of the following:

Severe, symptomatic native aortic valve stenosis

History of syncope

History of chest pain

Shortness of breath

Congestive heart failure

Old age (patients are generally in their 80s and 90s)

History of stroke

Reduced ejection fraction

History of Atrial Fibrillation

Prior open chest/heart surgery

Fatigue, slow gait

Peripheral vascular disease

Frailty

Heavily calcified aorta

Prior chest radiation

History of coronary artery disease

History of COPD

History of kidney insufficiency

Diabetes and hypertension

SCREENING AND PATIENT ASSESSMENT

Patients undergo a series of screening tests to determine eligibility, risk assessment, and accuracy of valve measurement. Tests may include: